SOCIAL WORK PAPER

Film 1

Film title: A Place at the Table Samantha Gardener

Rationale for selection: I chose this documentary because I am very interested on the topic of hunger in America. I know that there is a stigma placed on people who do not have enough to eat and have to rely on government assistance- they are lazy, undeserving, and could afford food “if they would just try hard enough.” I know that this is not the case and that the “American dream” is actually very unrealistic. I also know that a lot of people think that it is not the government’s job to feed people and that local charities can handle that and fix hunger, but I have seen that that is not the case. I wanted to see statistics and real people sharing their experiences. I wanted to be more informed on this topic.

Main Points: In general, Americans view hunger as a poor person’s problem and as something that they experience because they didn't work hard enough. People who face hunger are perceived as lazy and not entitled, which is certainly not the case. This exemplifies elitism, which Miley and Dubois define as “prejudice against those in lower economic classes” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 137). This documentary points to the fact that hunger leads to things such as obesity, mental and physical health problems, and poor performance in school. This ties in to the concept of at-risk social functioning. “Some populations or social systems are at risk of difficulties in social functioning. This means that they are vulnerable to specific problems, although such problems have yet to surface.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 65). If a child is born into a family that is facing hunger, they are vulnerable to certain things that are likely to result from the hunger that they experience. Hunger and the failed social system that we live in today that doesn't address hunger like we need it to affects people in multiple other areas of their lives. Hunger puts pressure on parents to find better jobs and to somehow provide for their family, and to do better even when they are doing their best. It places stress on kids because they are not able to function properly in school. This shows the concept of environmental press at work. “Environmental forces exert pressure on individuals that affects them either negatively or positively…Environmental stressors…press on individuals and create barriers, problems, or difficulties in functioning.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 66). A big point this documentary was trying to make was that hunger affects every area of individual’s lives. “Social problems affect social functioning in a number of aspects of an individual’s lives, including physical and mental health, employment and education, financial security, housing, recreation, and family and community integrity.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p. 67). For example, Barbie couldn't go back to college because she could barely afford to put food on the table. The hunger that her and her family experienced made higher education impossible. One of the larger points that this movie makes is that hunger is a human right. Miley and Dubois define human rights as “…the fundamental entitlements that are necessary for personal development and human potential.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p.133). They also state that “Because these basic rights are inherent, human rights cannot be granted or can they be taken away-they can only be violated.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p.132). This documentary shows that the system in which we live in is causing people’s human rights to be violated. Many people ignore the fact that hunger affects so many Americans today. If people don't acknowledge it as a problem, then they don't have to deal with it. “Belief in a just world predicts lower reported levels of social activism, perpetuating social injustice.” (Miley & Dubois, 2013, p.149). The whole point of this documentary was to highlight the fact that hunger is an issue, and that it needs to be seriously addressed. The world is not just, and people need to acknowledge that.

Quote: “‘The stereotype of food banks has always been for the unemployed and for the disabled, people that can’t go out and get a job. That’s not always the case. Sometimes in life you just get to a point where you just need a little extra help.’” -Adam Appelhanz

Why quote was chosen: I chose this quote for several reasons. As a fully employed person with what is seen as an important job, he still is not able to make enough money to put enough food on the table. He breaks all of the stereotypes- he isn't unemployed or disabled or lazy, he is a normal man who is a victim of the system that which America operates in. I think Adam Applehanz is a true example of our failed system. He is doing all of he can, and he is still faced with hunger.

Personal response to film: I really enjoyed this movie and the insight it gave me. I learned a lot about hunger and the effects that it has on people. My awareness was widely broadened to this issue that so many people are experiencing despite the fact that as a country, we have proven that we can handle if effectively. It clearly tied into many concepts of social work, especially into concepts that we learned about it chapter 6 of the book. Hunger is a problem of social injustice, and hunger is a basic human right that many people don't have and aren't given the access to. Because of this, I feel that social workers are ethically obligated to fight hunger at each level of intervention. I agree that the government isn't providing enough assistance to those who need it and that it isn't giving enough people time to build financial stability once they do have a job, and this is something that a macrolevel social worker could address.